Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-28
GALLAHER'S PEACOCK.

| UALLA1IEl y L IAOOOA.
Mrs. Dennis Gallagher tthe second ''g" is
silent since they entered society occupies an
elegant if not entirely comfortable residence
on the east side. The house has bay windows
everywhere, q cupola and tower. 1t has
grown as the district has grown, from what
was called ''Shanty Town" into tract of sur
passing apartment houses. It has grown as
Gallagher has grown from Castle Garden
frescoer in whitewash to a politician whose
barge has gathered golden sands by the banks
of the amber river of rum. 1t has grown as
Mrs. Gallaher has grown from thin woman
in 50 Paisley shawl of Sunday to stout
woman in a ''sale hide" sacque and SOLITARY
shtones" in her ears Gallaher, in fact, is now
magnificent drum major, socially speaking,
while Mrs. Gallaher is full brass band.
The only thorn in Mrs Gallaher's ample
side has been the G. Washington Millards.
The G. Washington Millards live opposite.
They are not people of color, becausr black is
not color and they are black. When Gal
laher, like young Michael Angelo, was mix
ing pigments for the walls he was destined
later to own in fee simple, 6. W. Willard was
sleeping car porter on the Central. Their
rivals socially. They were neck and neck in
the matter of bay windows, and when Mil
lard mounted cupola Gallaher angrily saw
him and went him one better with the tower
This won the game, as the cupola had been
set in the center of the Willard roof and there
was no room for a tower unless built on a
platform with supports.
The rivalry in display has been intensely
| l1o%vr <hn xxysxy f1x~
when Gallaher came home the other night
and saw the fir, vn on the face Of his better
half he knew something had happened. The
dinner passed off in silence. When Gallaher
had taken postprandial plum in the "fsht
bowl" and was wiping his mouth on nap
kin, which has deafening monogram in
green embroidery and an emerald crest that
was lost by one Of the Irish kings at the
fight by the Boyne water, Mrs. Gallaher said
| to the bonnie:
"Ornriette!"
Eyes, madame"
"Take the children to rowl their shkates an
the new cimint soidewalk. Don't be lettin'
thin tark to any odher children, or ye
naden't come back. Do ye moind"
"Yes, madame" And the parents were
| left to themselves.
ments, lost in sad and bitter musings Gal
laher, understanding the situation, was ap-
parently absorbed in the large print OF a
newspaper waiting for her to speak. After
some minutes SIZE said furtively, in q hoarse
whisper
"DinnlsI'
"Whata"
"The naygur woman has pug darg."
"What's pug darga'
GA dirty little haste wild black nose all
damned in an CLASH eyes"
Gam what do she be doin' wild pug darga"
"Ladin' it up an down all day long in frint
av the house to shpoite me-" She breathed
pressed anger.
Gallaher was aroused and angry too.
"Kelly has a shmall bull darg as IL chew the
head off'n him." he said.
The lady shook her head "It's not Frinch
thave bull dargs"
There was silence, and each cast about for
a counter to this body blow that the Millards
had struck Mrs. Gallaher spoke first.
'Dinnis!''
"What?'
'Paycocks is nice"
Whats paycocks?'
"Its big burrud wild bulls eye Feathers
in its tail. Ye seen 'em in the park"
"Loike painted turkeyg'
THAT same"
"Aha!"
The next day Gallaher purchased the finest
peacock that money could buy.
The peacock arrived the next evening on q
dray. The huge coop was taken into the
laundry room, in the basement, and the
family gathered for private view ON the eve
of the public display. When the coop door
was opened it stepped out, took one, two and
then three suspicious steps, craning its purple
neck and looking about The family stared,
but said nothing. Neither did the peacock
HAS it song" asked the servant girl,
breaking the silence.
Faith, it's no dickey burrud,n said Mrs
Gallaher, contemptuously.
1--WE orter feed it," said Dennis Gallaher,
Jr., aged - What does it eat, mas"
"Oh, thin things ate chaneyware and
rocks and chingle nails" said his mother,
airily. She was fashionably familiar with the
gastric weaknesses of all fashionable pets.
Dennis, Jr., tried it with broken cup, but
it had no appetite When some corn was put
in the cup it took three grains one at time
and with great elaboration. 1t appeared to
prefer Dennis, Jr.
"Why don't it blow up its tail, MAJ"
asked he.
"There's no CRASH here When it gifts an
the lawn yen see it pull the stirring"
Having inspected it till they couldn't rest,
the bird, which, after discussion and in defer
ence to the father, had been called Robert
Emmett, was locked up in the wagon house in
the rear of the lot. Mrs. Gallaher was not
satisfied She decided to call it Lucille, but
had been physiologically overruled. When
the family retired to bed Mrs. Gallaher's
mind was filed with visions of her front yard
converted into a tropical jungle, in which
peacocks, birds of paradise and new bonnets
of elegant plumage stood in line upon the
limbs of the trees and poured forth their JOY
in nlelodious roulades and thrilling rounde-
lays.
1t was the dead hour Of night.
Mrs Gallaher's face had sunken in its soft
pillow and her rosy features were wrapped in
a lace bonnet de mutt, which came down over
her ears and shat out all earthly sounds 1t
had cherry ribbon strings tied under her chin.
All was still with one exception, which was
Gallaher. At regular intervals he snored de-
fiance to the English throne, of which he
dreamed.
Suddenly upon the stiffness came a long,
loud, blood curdling scream that made the
windows rattle. 1t was awful.
whats THAR cried Gallaher. starting up.
what is it, Dinnisl7 asked Mrs. Gallaher,
awakened and scared.
"Caw horrrk!il"
The horrible scream was repeated Gallaher
sprang TO the floor.